Aurora West Unit School District 129 Board met April 9.
Here is the minutes provided by the Board:
Board Members Present:
Robert Gonzalez, Allyson Herget, Valerie Brown Dykstra, Ira Lathan, Amie Thompson, Richard Kerns, and Christopher Sparks.
Board Members Absent:
None
Board Secretary:
Joy Engfer
Administration present:
Dr. Jeff Craig – Superintendent, Angie Smith – Assistant Superintendent of Operations, and Dr. Michael Smith – Executive Director of Human Resources
Meeting called to order at 7:28 am.
1. Opening Items
Procedural: 1.1 Call to Order
Robert Gonzalez, Board President, called the meeting to order and asked the secretary to call the roll.
Procedural: 1.2 Roll Call
Upon the roll call, all members of the Board were present.
2. Recognitions
Procedural: 2.1 Public Comment: Identification of Audience wishing to address the Board
No members of the audience wished to address the Board.
3. Potential Action Items as a result of Executive Session
Action: 3.1 Potential Action After Closed Session - 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9) - Student Disciplinary Cases
Mrs. Amie Thompson motioned, second by Mr. Ira Lathan that, based upon and after the Board's consideration of the evidence and testimony of the suspension review hearing held on April 4, 2018, the Board of Education finds that Student No. 3013050 has committed an act of gross misconduct as charged by the District's Administration, in violation of Board Policy 7:190, Student Behavior.
Based upon such gross misconduct, the student’s continuing presence in school posed a threat to school safety and/or disrupted other students’ learning opportunities. I move that the Board of Education uphold the suspension of Student No. 3013050 from West Aurora School District 129 for one day. The duration of Student No. 3013050’s suspension is appropriate based upon the severity of the behavior, the threat posed to school safety, and the disruption to other students’ learning opportunities.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries (7-0)
Yea: Mr. Robert Gonzalez, Mrs. Allyson Herget, Mrs Amie Thompson, Mrs Valerie Brown Dykstra, Mr. Ira Lathan, Mr Richard Kerns, Mr Christopher Sparks
Action: 3.2 Potential Action After Closed Session - 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9) - Student Disciplinary Cases
Mrs. Valerie Brown Dykstra motioned, second by Mrs. Allyson Herget that, based upon and after the Board's consideration of the evidence and testimony of the expulsion hearing held on April 4, 2018, the Board of Education finds that Student No. 3002937 has committed an act of gross misconduct as charged by the District's Administration, in violation of Board Policy 7:190, Student Behavior.
I move that the Board of Education expel Student No. 3002937 from West Aurora School District 129, for the remainder of the 2017-2018 school year. I move that the Board of Education also expel Student No. 3002937 from West Aurora School District 129 for the 2018-2019 school year, but that the expulsion be held in abeyance and Student No. 3002937 be administratively transferred to an alternative school, Success Academy, or another alternative school as determined by the District’s Administration, pursuant to Article 13A of the Illinois School Code, with the option to transition back to a West Aurora school during the Spring semester of the 2018-2019 school year if the student is meeting all the program requirements of Success Academy during a review of such in the fall semester.
The Board finds that prior to considering a recommendation for expulsion, the District’s Administration attempted other behavioral and disciplinary interventions and determined there are no other appropriate and available behavioral and disciplinary interventions. The Board finds that based on evidence presented to the hearing officer removing Student No. 3002937 from the learning environment is in the best interest of the school because her behavior poses a threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of the school community, and substantially disrupts, impedes or interferes with the operation of the school.
The Board finds that based on evidence presented to the hearing officer the duration of Student No. 3002937’s expulsion is appropriate based on the recent disciplinary history of the student, the severity of the behavior and risk of harm to students, the substantial disruption of the school and instruction, and ongoing impact on the school environment. The 2018-2019 expulsion being held in abeyance is contingent upon the student’s full participation, during the 2018-2019 school year, in the alternative school program, including regularly attending school; complying with attendance policies, school rules, and any referrals for services or counseling made by the alternative school; and successfully completing the alternative school’s curriculum. I move that, should Student No. 3002937 fail to fully participate in the alternative school program and the alternative school refers the student back to the District, Student No. 3002937 shall be immediately expelled from West Aurora School District 129 for the remainder of the District Administration’s recommended expulsion duration, for 2018-2019 school year.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries (6-1)
Yea: Mr. Robert Gonzalez, Mrs. Allyson Herget, Mrs. Amie Thompson, Mrs. Valerie Brown Dykstra, Mr. Ira Lathan, Mr. Richard Kerns
Nay: Mr. Christopher Sparks
Action: 3.3 Potential Action After Closed Session - 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9) - Student Disciplinary Cases
Mr. Richard Kerns motioned, second by Mrs. Valerie Brown Dykstra that, based upon and after the Board's consideration of the evidence and testimony of the expulsion hearing held on April 4, 2018, the Board of Education finds that Student No. 3005902 has committed an act of gross misconduct as charged by the District's Administration, in violation of Board Policy 7:190, Student Behavior.
I move that the Board of Education expel Student No. 3005902 from West Aurora School District 129, for the remainder of the 2017-2018 school year. I move that the Board of Education also expel Student No. 3005902 from West Aurora School District 129 for the 2018-2019 school year, but that the expulsion be held in abeyance and Student No. 3005902 be administratively transferred to an alternative school, SUCCESS Academy, or another alternative school as determined by the District’s Administration, pursuant to Article 13A of the Illinois School Code, with the option to transition back to a West Aurora school during the Spring semester of the 2018-2019 school year if the student is meeting all the program requirements of SUCCESS Academy during a review of such in the fall semester.
The Board finds that prior to considering a recommendation for expulsion, the District’s Administration attempted other behavioral and disciplinary interventions and determined there are no other appropriate and available behavioral and disciplinary interventions. The Board finds that based on evidence presented to the hearing officer removing Student No. 3005902 from the learning environment is in the best interest of the school because her behavior poses a threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of the school community, and substantially disrupts, impedes or interferes with the operation of the school.
The Board finds that based on evidence presented to the hearing officer the duration of Student No. 3005902’s expulsion is appropriate based on the recent disciplinary history of the student, the severity of the behavior and risk of harm to students, the substantial disruption of the school and instruction, and ongoing impact on the school environment.
The 2018-2019 expulsion being held in abeyance is contingent upon the student’s full participation, during the 2018-2019 school year, in the alternative school program, including regularly attending school; complying with attendance policies, school rules, and any referrals for services or counseling made by the alternative school; and successfully completing the alternative school’s curriculum. I move that, should Student No. 3005902 fail to fully participate in the alternative school program and the alternative school refers the student back to the District, Student No. 3005902 shall be immediately expelled from West Aurora School District 129 for the remainder of the District Administration’s recommended expulsion duration, for 2018-2019 school year.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries (6-1)
Yea: Mr. Robert Gonzalez, Mrs. Allyson Herget, Mrs. Amie Thompson, Mrs. Valerie Brown Dykstra, Mr. Ira Lathan, Mr. Richard Kerns
Nay: Mr. Christopher Sparks
4. Adjournment
Action, Procedural: 4.1 Adjourn
Mrs. Amie Thompson motioned, second by Mr. Ira Lathan to adjourn.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries (7-0)
Yea: Mr. Robert Gonzalez, Mrs. Allyson Herget, Mrs. Amie Thompson, Mrs. Valerie Brown Dykstra, Mr. Ira Lathan, Mr. Richard Kerns, Mr. Christopher Sparks
Meeting adjourned at 7:36 am.
https://www.boarddocs.com/il/asd129/Board.nsf/files/AYBMD45A4991/$file/April%209%2C%202018%20-%20Regular%20Open%20Session%20Minutes.pdf
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